After 15 years of debate, the Tombras School has finally announced the launch of a student-run agency. The agency prepares students for careers after graduation by providing them with hands-on experience working with clients and designing strategic communication campaigns.
“We could teach you various concepts and theories and all that stuff, but the only way you get to be a good advertising or PR person is by going out there and doing it,” Public Relations Professor David Norman, the agency’s co-advisor and a nationally recognized crisis communications expert with extensive professional experience, said.
The agency will be run and structured exactly like a professional agency. Students will contribute the entire process of client work, including strategy and creative development, implementation and evaluation. Students will gain experience in a diverse range of fields, including public relations, advertising, public affairs, digital marketing, graphic design and professional writing.
The agency consists of an eight person student-led team supported by professionally experienced co-advisors: Norman and professor Dustin Thomas, a creative director and celebrated conceptual writer.
Students will serve as a managing director, an agency director and a creative director to lead the agency. The student supporting team includes a social media manager, writer, account executive, designer and research and analytics manager.
Much of the agency will undergo significant transformation as it works with clients. The agency team will need to create branding and colors, a website, marketing materials and an agency handbook.
“We intend on being busy with clients at the very beginning, as we are actually branding ourselves. That’s why I said we’re flying, building the planes as we fly, in a good way, because we’re going to be very busy right off the bat with clients,” Thomas said.
Although Norman and Thomas don’t know the agency’s specific clients yet, they believe the clients will primarily be smaller start-up businesses or medium-sized businesses.
“If we had the typical type of client that I would envision, you know, the typical type of client I would expect, maybe a start-up type enterprise in Knoxville that you can’t necessarily afford the Tombras Agency or New York City Agency,” Norman said.
The agency will also allow students to network with employers and UT alums. Norman and Thomas are planning to create an advisory board of UT alumni.
Students can apply to join the agency on Handshake. Leadership positions are closed, but applications for the supporting roles opened on Oct. 27.
Norman advised students to apply for all positions they are interested in, but to make sure to specify their specific skills and experiences that make them a strong candidate for a particular position.
“Take your time, understanding the positions and understand the role in how you can help out with those roles,” Norman said.
Norman and Thomas expressed their hope that the agency’s business will grow, allowing more students to join and fill new positions.
“I’m really hopeful and confident that this is going to grow pretty quickly and then, who knows, by the end of next year we may be able to have 20 people,” Norman said.
